Axle-boxes



Filed June 12, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor David MC Mcol/ Attorneys D. M NICOLL April 25, 1961 AXLE-BOXES Filed June 12, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2.

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AXLE-BOXES David McNicoll, Birmingham, England, assignor to British Timken Limited, Birmingham, England, a British company Filed June 12, 1959, Ser. No. 819,897 Claims priority, application Great Britain Aug. 29, 1958 11 Claims. (Cl. 308180) ferred to wherein the two parts can be made of the most.

appropriate materials to suit the conditions under which the structure is to function, which ensures a strong and rigid structure in which the two parts are held together against relative rotation and axial displacement; and

which enables the overall degree of essential machining accuracy for the entire axle-box to be reduced to a minimum.

According to the invention, a railway vehicle axlebox comprises an inner sleeve for containing anti-friction bearings, an enveloping. caliper-like contractible outer member having tWo arms or branches, and means for drawing together the extremities of the said arms or branches of the outer member to effect the clamping of the inner sleeve within the outer member, said inner sleeve and outer member being so shaped or formed as to prevent or restrict relative rotation and one of the said parts having radially-extending positive stop means co-operating with the other part to prevent or restrict relative axial movement.

The outer member may have a non-circular crosssectional interior shape to co-operate with a non-circular outer periphery of the inner sleeve in order to prevent or restrict relative rotation. Also, to prevent or restrict relative axial displacement, the arms or branches of the outer member may be provided with inwardly-directed stop flanges or projections which co-operate with the ends of the inner sleeve.

To permit of the flexing of the arms or branches of the outer member when the latter is in one piece, resilient arcuate walls of reduced thickness may be provided between the side portions of said arms or branches and the arch or junction portion of the arms or branches so as to act in the manner of a ligament or hinge; and if desired, similar resilient arcuate walls of reduced thickness may be provided'between said side portions of the arms or branches and the free ends of the latter. Or, the outer member may consist of two separate arms or branches connected together at one .end by a mechanical hinge or joint to permit of their being opened out and then contracted about the inner sleeve; Flanges or lugs may be provided at the inwardly-curved free ends of the caliper side arms or branches of the outer member so as to be adapted to receive bolts, screws or other ties for drawing together the said caliper arms.

. The inner sleeve may be substantially cylindrical with opposite flat parallel side surfaces which co-operate with flat interior surfaces of the outer member in order to prevent or restrict relative rotation; or said sleeve may be of any other symmetrical-sided non-circular form adapted to co-operate with the sides of the outer member.

te States Patent The formation or opposed contours of the inner sleeve and outer member may be such that a free space or cavity is left adjacent the flanges or lugs at the free ends of the arms or branches of the outer member, in order to allow for unrestricted caliper action of the outer member in these regions.

In the case of a railway vehicle axle-box the upper arch portion of the outer member would carry a seat for the vehicle supporting spring, and the arms or branches at opposite sides would carry guides for slidable engagement with the horn plates or blocks of the vehicle frame.

The outer member of the housing may be provided at one or each end with radially projecting stop flanges or lugs against which one end of the inner sleeve is engaged.

Large apertures may he provided in the arms or branches of the outer member in proximity to the free ends of the latter, and the portions of the arms adjacent said apertures may carry inwardly-directed and angularlydisposed pads so that when said arms are drawn together by the bolts or the like these pads clamp the inner sleeve against the base or arch portion of the outer member. The bolts or the like may be adjusted so that the tension exerted is the equivalent of any desired degree of interference or freedom between the outer member and the sleeve, and to ensure this result a spacer may be clamped between the flanges or lugs receiving the bolts, and the latter may be locked by spot welding. To cater for manufacturing variations, a resilient member may be interposed between the inner and outer members.

The open ends of the arms or branches of the outer caliper member may be at the top or at the bottom, and in the former case may surround a spring pad seat formed on the sleeve; or, alternatively, the free ends of the outer member may be arranged to form the spring pad seat when drawn together.

Fig. l of the accompanying drawings is a longitudinal section through a railway vehicle axle-box according to one embodiment of the invention, said axle-box being shown mounted upon a wheel axle.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the axle-box as seen from the left-hand end of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section on line IIIIII, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-section through the outer member of the axle-box in its opened-out condition before being fitted to the inner sleeve.

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through the outer member, taken in a plane corresponding to line V-V, Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section through the outer member on line VIVI, Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary end elevation of the upper portion of a modified form of outer member in which the arms or branches are connected together by means of a mechanical hinge.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view showing the adjacent ends of the outer member, represented in Figure 7, separated from one another, before the hinge pin is fitted.

Figure 9 represents a cross-sectional view of another modification in which openings are provided in the opposite side walls of the outer member adjacent the horn guides.

Figure 10 shows a further modification where the free ends of the outer caliper member are at the top and the spring seating pad is on the inner sleeve.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings, which show a two-unit axle-box according to the invention, the axle-box consists of an inner sleeve 1 containing the bearings and a separate outer caliper-like member 2 enveloping the inner sleeve.

The inner sleeve 1 consists of a barrel preferably made tively high compressive strength.

In the example illustrated, the sleeve 1 contains two tapered-roller bearings, oneat each end, the rollers 3 running between outerrace rings 4 and inner race rings 5. The outer race rings 4 are mounted in annular recesses in the respective opposite ends of the sleeve 1 with their inner ends abutting shoulders formed by a flange 6 extending around the interior of the sleeve at the middle thereof. The inner race rings are fitted upon the axle end 7 with a spacing ring 8 between them. A retaining or keep member 9 attached to the end of the axle by screw 10 abuts the inner race ring of the outermost bearing, and the inner race ring of the innermost bearing abuts a ring 11 axially supported against a shoulderon the axle. Closure rings 12, 13, are pressed into counter-bores in the respective ends of the sleeve 1, and an end cover 14 is attached by screws or studs 14 (Figure 2) to the outermost closure ring 12. i The outer member 2 consists of a casting or pressing of caliper-like form, made from relatively high-tensile material, such as steel or malleable cast iron, and having at the top an upwardly-projecting seat 15, of conventional form, for the reception of the pad of the vehicle suspension spring. Extending downwards from the seat 15 are side arms or branches 16 of outwardlybowed form, and carried by the middle portions thereof are integral vertical horn guides 17 of channel section, fitted with liners 18. The arcuate portions 19* of the side arms situated between these horn guides 17 and the upper arch portion carrying the seat 15, are of reduced thickness in relation to other portions of the arms, in order to give flexibility and to act as ligaments or hinges. The lower portions of the pendant arms 16 below the horn guides 17 curve inwardly towards each other in caliper-like manner, and the free extremities are provided with pairs of opposed lugs 20 adapted to receive clam-ping bolts 21 by means of which the outer member 2 may be contracted around the inner sleeve 1.

The pendant arms 16 are formed on their opposed interior surfaces, at positions corresponding to the horn guides 17, with parallel flat faces 22 which mate with flat parallel faces 23 formed on opposite external sides of the inner sleeve 1, so that when the sleeve and outer member are assembled together and the outer member is contracted around the sleeve, relative rotation between the two units is prevented.

The lower portions of the pendant arms 16 below the horn guides 17, have large apertures 24 provided in them in order to increase the flexibility of the arms and to reduce weight. These apertures thus produce, at opposite sides thereof, arcuate axially-spaced strap-like parts 25 which are spaced from the inner sleeve 1 by cavities 26 which allow for. unrestricted caliper action of the outer member in the regions of these cavities. The strap-like parts 25 carry inwardly and upwardly directed short pads or bosses 27 which engage the lower surface of the inner sleeve 1 at circumferentially-spaced points.

At the outer end of the caliper member 2 inwardlyprojecting arcuate flanges 28 are provided, one at each side, said flanges extending from the free ends of the side arms 16 to points adjacent the flat interior faces 22,

and at the innermost end of the outer member arcuate flanges 32, similar to the flanges 28, also extend from the lower free ends of the side arms 16 to points adjacent the flat interior faces 22. V

In assembling the sleeve 1 and outer member 2, the latter is opened out as in Figure 4, and the sleeve 1 is passed axially between the caliper arms 16, from the innermost end of the said outer member, until the outer end of the sleeve is seated against the arcuate stop flanges 28 of the outer member. The sleeve having thus been inserted, the caliper arms 16 are pressed towards each other to engage the sleeve, and the clamping bolts i 21 are passed through the lugs 20. On tightening up the nuts on these bolts, the resiliency of the thinner arcuate portions 19 of the arms and of the lower strap portions 26, causes the outer member 2 to be tensioned and contracted about the sleeve 1, and the pads 27 on the said strap portions 26 urge the sleeve upwards against the top arch portion which carries the spring pad seat 15, thus applying pressure at three points, to give the equivalent of the desired degree of interference or freedom.

The flanges 28, 32, may be notched or gapped to their full depth at positions towards the free ends of the arms, in order to give the desired flexibility of the end portions of the arms and allow the pads 27 to bear evenly on the inner member.

According to the modification shown in Figures 7 and 8, instead of the outer member 2 being in one piece and its resiliency relied upon to give the caliper action, the said member 2 is made in two halves 2 2 each provided at the top with one half 15 15 respectively of the spring pad seat, and their upper ends being hinged together by a pin 36 passed through inter-engaging knuckle parts 37.

Referring to Figure 9, where, in the case of an axlebox, the width between the horn blocks of the vehicle frame is restricted, the inner sleeve 1 is allowed to project through apertures 38 formed in the walls of the arms 16 of the caliper member 2 so as to extend through the back of the horn guides 17. The arcuate portions the sleeve and subsequent closing down about the sleeve. The back face of each horn guide above and below the aperture 38, and the wall of the sleeve 1 that extends into the aperture, being afterwards milled to a plane surface, as indicated at 23 on the sleeve and 39 on the horn guide.. When the liner 18 is fitted this engages the flat surface 23 on the sleeve and prevents relative rotation between the sleeve and outer member.

Instead of the free ends of the arms 16 of the outer member 2 being at the bottom, as in Figures 1 to 6, they maybe at the top, as in Figure 10. Thus the free upper ends of the arms 16 carry pairs of lugs 20 through which clamping bolts 21 are passed, and the inner sleeve 1 carries at the top the spring pad seat 15 which extends through gaps 40 provided in the free end portions of said arms 16, the lugs 20 and bolts 21 being disposed adjacent opposite ends of the seat 15 i I claim: a

1. A railway vehicle axle-box, comprising an inner sleeve part for containing anti-friction bearings, an en-. veloping caliper-like contractible outer member part having two arms, and means for drawing together the extremities of said arms to effect the clamping of the inner sleeve within the outer member, said inner sleeve and outer member being so shaped as to restrict relative rotation and one of said parts having radially-extending positive stop means co-operating with the other part to prevent any substantial relative axial movement ofsaid parts.

2. A railway vehicle axle-box, comprising an inner sleeve having a non-circular outer periphery and adapted to contain anti-friction bearings, an enveloping caliperlike contractible outer member having two outwardlybowed arms and an interior non-circular cross-sectional shape co-operating with the non-circular outer periphery of the inner sleeve to restrict relative rotation, and means for drawing together the extremities of the arms of the outer member to effect the clamping of the inner sleeve, said outer member carrying at opposite ends inwardly-extending positive stop means co-operating with the inner sleeve to prevent any substantial relative axial movement of said outer member and inner sleeve.

3. A railway vehicle axle-box according to claim 2, wherein the positive stop means on the outer member consist of curved flanges extending around portions of the lateral edges of the arms from the free ends of said arms. 4. A railway vehicle axle-box according to claim 3, wherein the flanges extend from the free ends of the arms only to points adjacent the middle portions of the arms.

5. A railway vehicle axle-box comprising an inner sleeve for containing anti-friction bearings, a one-piece enveloping caliper-like contractible outer member having two outwardly-bowed arms the intermediate side portions of which are connected to the arch portion joining the arms by means of resilient arcuate walls which are of reduced thickness in relation to that of the said side and arch portions, and means for drawing together the free extremities of said arms to effect the clamping of the inner sleeve within the outer member, said inner sleeve and outer member being so shaped as to restrict relative rotation, and one of said sleeve and outer members having positive stop means co-operating with the other member to prevent any substantial relative axial movement.

6. A railway vehicle axle-box according to claim 1, wherein there is a free space between the inner sleeve and outer member at the free ends of the arms of the outer member.

7. A railway vehicle axle-box as claimed in claim 1,

wherein portions of the arms of the outer member are provided, in proximity to the free ends of said arms, with depending and outwardly-bowed arms, a seat for a vehicle spring at the closed top of the outer member, guides at opposite sides of the outer member for slidable en gagement with the vehicle frame said guides being located at about the middle of the depth of the respective depending arms, and means for drawing together the extremities of said arms to efiect the clamping of the inner sleeve member within the outer member, said inner sleeve member and outer member being so shaped as to restrict relative rotation and one of said sleeve and outer members having radially-extending positive stop means co-operating with the other member to restrict relative axial movement of said members.

10. A railway vehicle axle-box comprising an inner sleeve member containing anti-friction'bearings, an enveloping caliper-like contractible outer member having two outwardly-bowed arms extending upwardly from a base portion joining said arms, a seat for a vehicle spring, being carried by the inner sleeve member and projecting upwardly between the free upper ends of the outer member, guides on the arms of the outer member for slidable engagement with the vehicle frame said guides being located at about the middle of the depth of the respective arms, and means for drawing together the upper free extremities of said arms to effect the clamping of the inner sleeve member within the outer member, said inner sleeve member and outer member being so shaped as to restrict relative rotation and one of the said sleeve and outer members having radially-extending positive stop means cooperating with the other member to restrict relative axial l movement of said members. I

11. A railway vehicle axle-box, comprising an inner sleeve member adapted to contain anti-friction bearings, an enveloping caliper-like contractible outer member having two outwardly-bowed arms, guides at opposite sides of the outer member for slidable engagement with the frame of the railway vehicle, said guides being located substantially at the middle of the depth of the respective arms, and means for drawing together the extremities of i the said arms to elfect the clamping of the inner sleeve member within the outer member, said inner sleeve member and outer member being shaped so as to restrict relative rotation, and one of said sleeve and outer members having radially-extending positive stop means co-operating with the other member to restrict relative axial movement of said members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,825,530 Latshaw Sept. 29, 1931 1,953,001 Maclver Mar. 27, 1934 y FOREIGN PATENTS 1,014,143 Germany Aug. 22, 1957 

